Chapter 23

Wondering how much he could take before he begged for it to stop.

Sir laid down another few stripes, each one ripping a scream from his throat, each feeling like he was being flayed. Gabe threw his head back with the force of his scream, all the strength going out of his legs until he was upright by the thinnest of margins and his grip on the cross. It was like a burn, like boiling oil over his skin. Instead of easing after a moment, it grew and spread, searing him to the bone. Oh, it hurt, it hurt. Sweat prickled on his skin, ran down his back, and oh, fuck, that was terrible, worse. He was whimpering.

Then it stopped, and Sir was close again, breath spilling warm over his skin. “You’re so good, so perfect, look at you, sweetheart, just lookat this, you’re amazing.” Hands on Gabe’s shoulders, skirting the area of pain but touching everywhere else. Sir ducked around the cross to catch Gabe’s eye. “Oh, look at those eyes. Are you floating, sweetheart?”